TCU Place – It’s a Matter of Pride

You will see a slew of rainbows this month, with rainbow-themed social media campaigns showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. I’m all for that—and more. True support, though, has to come from within, with policies and actions that create more inclusive workplaces and communities—actions that go deeper than the Pride celebrations toward true allyship.

Last year, TCU Place introduced our heartfelt tagline, “This is YOUR place.” Regardless of who you are, what event you are gathering to support, your political or religious affiliation, your background or your status in life – our place is a welcoming space for everyone. We have not just trained, but passionately educated our team to ensure a safe space. We are not just working, but actively striving to ensure our team is as diverse as our industry and world. We don't just hire, but eagerly seek out talent with different and new perspectives and experience because it adds a richness to our team. We don't just celebrate, but deeply appreciate our differences and get positively curious about each other.

We have the incredible job of running a Performing Arts Centre – and actively look for entertainment options that are also as diverse as our world and to celebrate that diversity. And we are on a journey of learning. Last year, we were called out for our process around a gender-neutral washroom. That helped us to learn, and to implement new processes that were truly accessible. This year, we focused on learning how language is important for service delivery and inclusivity. I get it – after many years of binary language – changing that may be difficult. But our team has worked through it. Because acknowledging who a person is outside of their gender is essential. So, we continue to learn and grow. This journey that we are on feels good. TCU Place is a safe place. This is YOUR place.

Our goal is to support the LGBTQ+ Community internally and externally, always – not just during Pride Month. Our long-term plan includes measurable diversity goals. Our marketing pays attention to our big diverse world, featuring LGBTQ+ individuals and highlighting our company’s support for the community. We have uncomfortable conversations with each other to help our team grow. We commit to consistently keeping the diversity effort moving forward through the year.

So why are we doing this? The events industry has the power to bring people together for a variety of purposes – entertainment, business meetings, conventions, celebrations, cultural activities, sports and more. Some consider this industry a “nice to have”, and I believe that we are a cultural necessity – if we do it right. We have the power to create experiences that change lives. We have the opportunity to open people’s minds to new experiences, to help them learn, grow, celebrate, and belong – fundamental human needs. And while we play this important role, we can elevate the purpose of our gatherings – and share the message about taking better care of our world and each other. That starts with our own actions within our team and within our community. We know that actions speak louder than words and definitely louder than policies. So we are taking action to bridge the gaps, learn the truths, understand and address ingrained biases, and also help our clients to do the same. We know that by looking at the world through this lens, our world becomes stronger, and our business becomes stronger.

For us, belonging is not just a matter of Pride but a fundamental human right that we can positively influence. Belonging, safety, love, respect, and appreciation…we live for these at TCU Place. And we welcome you to join us. Because this is YOUR Place.